Keiko Fujiwara: I hate to say this, but until my carpal tunnel (yes, I have it again) lets up, I won't be posting much any time soon as I'll need my wrist strength for typing papers for my classes.
Anyway, in case you have not heard the news, the rest of BATB will air in the states starting June 2nd and ending on July 7th. No news of a third season, yet, from the CW, but other sources seem to be convinced that BATB has been renewed. (See my Tumblr Profile for the source; it will be labeled: "AXN eyeing July premiere for Steven Spielberg's Extant | Indian Television Dot Com" My Tumblr name: WriterFreak001).
Anyway, here is a preview of a story I have in store for you! I plan on working on this baby during the summer since I'll have ample amounts of time to do so. Don't worry, I'll be working on my other stories during the summer as well! ^_^
Title | Reality
Fandom | Beauty and the Beast (CW)
Description | Catherine learns some heavy duty information from her father, Agent Reynolds when she visits him in the cell regarding Vincent's recent arrest. One thing leads to another, eventually causing Catherine to wake up in a hospital while shouting Vincent Keller's name. Gradually, she is convinced that everything she has learned about beasts was all made-believe to help her cope with her mother's death. Will Catherine buy into the story the doctors are telling her? Or, will she see past their deception and find a way back to reality? If you want to find out, continue reading!
Rating| This fanfiction will be rated T for language, suggested themes and anything else T-rated I might throw in it. If anything, read at your own discretion.
POV | Third Person Omniscient
Disclaimer | While CW owns Beauty & the Beast, I am the owner of this Masterpiece.
Claimer | I am human; there are bound to be mistakes. If you feel like something should be changed, you have the power to send me a review/private message. I can't guarantee if I'll change it every time but I do read all of my reviews and all of my private messages!
Reality
Written by: Keiko Fujiwara
~Beauty & the Beast~
Catherine's heart leapt for joy when she saw Vincent standing on the roof of her apartment complex and waiting for her. Ever since he had left the masquerade, she desperately wanted to see him—to tell him her feelings, and sure enough, Vincent Keller had listened to her heart, knowing exactly what she had wanted.
Slowly, she walked towards him as if she were walking down an aisle of a church on her wedding day. Feeling the cool air kissing her exposed skin, she pulled her green shawl tightly against her body, and continued walking towards him. He slightly turned around, his eyes meeting and mating with hers as she confronted him. As he ripped his gaze away from hers, and pulled out a beautiful rose from his coat, she couldn't help but smile and laugh. The whole thing seemed like a cheesy gesture, but she didn't care. Even when she knew he knew she had chosen him, he still was doing everything he could to make sure she wouldn't run back into Gabe's arms.
"I love you Catherine," he whispered softly as if his tongue was tasting every single syllable leaving his lips. Deep in her heart, she had known it all along. When JT told her Vincent was going beast-straight in order to win her heart back, she never stopped him or even tried to put him in his place. She knew what she had wanted, but her mind had gotten in the way, prolonging her relationship with the ADA.
"I love you too," Catherine replied before Vincent leaned in and pressed his lips against hers. Their lips parted briefly, savoring the long-awaited kiss enflamed by love instead of sexual desire. For the first time in a very long time, Catherine finally felt like she was kissing the man she knew before he was captured by her father. She took the rose from Vincent's hands and wrapped her arms around him as she pulls him in for another kiss—one that will forever seal their love together.
For several long minutes, Catherine had forgotten about the worries on her mind, and only focused on the man kissing her lips. There was no doubt in her heart whom she loves—the answer was always there; she just needed the self-discovery in order to find it. As they migrated from roof to bedroom, Catherine regretted nothing. From then on, Vincent Keller was hers, and she would do whatever was possible in order to fight for him. Never again would she ever give up on her feelings for him; she had learned her lesson, and she planned on spending the rest of her life with Former Captain Vincent Ryan Keller.
Forever and always—that was what they promised one another as they re-consummated their love. Even if marriage would never be a possibility…even if children might never be part of their future…even if Catherine would never get to have the 'normal' life she seemed to have always wanted…Vincent vowed to make every moment of their relationship worth a thousand futures together. Catherine promised the same. And nothing will ever compromise their love—nothing ever again.
It had been a few hours since they fell asleep in one another's arms, and everything was perfect. When Catherine woke up around 4 AM, she noticed Vincent staring at the ceiling, deep in thought.
"What's on your mind?" she asked, snaking her arms around him before kissing the corner of his mouth.
"Nothing…" his voice faded.
"If it's keeping you up, Vincent, it clearly isn't 'nothing,'" Catherine stated. She caressed his cheek with her palm and pulled his face towards her, "Vincent, what's wrong?"
"Nothing." He replied again.
"Vincent…."
"No," he shook his head, "That's not what I meant." He turned towards her and trapped her against his body and her bed, "What I meant to say is that there's nothing wrong, Catherine. Everything is right…. Everything is perfect."
Catherine smiled, "Is that so?"
Vincent nodded. "But, there is something else that would make everything even more perfect."
"And what's that?"
"Marriage," Vincent answered suddenly, and licked his lips as he waited for her to register what he had said. Catherine blinked once, and then twice as Vincent patiently (also nervously) waited for her answer.
"I thought marriage would be too risky…." Catherine replied, remembering their conversation they had when she had that pregnancy scare several months back.
"I'm not 'dead' anymore so it's a possibility, Catherine." Vincent answered as he leaned his forehead against hers. "Look, I'm not asking for an answer right away…just…just hear me out first, yeah?" Catherine nodded, urging him to continue. "I admit, there was a time in our relationship where I thought marriage…and children…weren't possible for me…. But, you already knew that. Back then, you said you didn't need a big rock on your finger in order to be happy, and I believe you, Catherine. I do." He paused, trying to recollect his thoughts, "I guess…I guess I never told you the real reason I had briefly started to rethink our relationship that morning when we thought you were pregnant…. Before 9/11, I had always planned on marrying and having a family with the love of my life—and no, I'm not referring to Alex."
"I didn't say you were," Catherine reached up and combed her fingers through his short, brunette hair.
"I know…. I'm just clarifying."
"Ah. Continue."
"Anyway, when you told me you thought you might have been pregnant, all of those things I had wanted to do—marriage…becoming a father—came back, and I was scared…and upset. You have no idea how much I wanted to just pick you up in my arms that day and leave for Denver to start a new life. I was sort of let down when we found out you weren't pregnant, but relieved because I wouldn't have wanted to force you to abort any child of ours. Back then, you and I couldn't have gotten married because Vincent Keller did not exist. However, a lot has changed since then, and we both know I'm no longer considered dead to the world anymore." Vincent cupped Catherine's face, and kissed her nose. "I love you, Catherine, and we don't know how much longer Vincent Keller will be alive…." Noticing the horror on his girlfriend's face, he quickly added, "I'm talking in a certificate-sense, love." Seeing Catherine's eyes soften at his response, he continued, "I can't promise you a perfect, white-picketed fence kind of future…, but…if there's one thing I would want you to have so you can prove to the world your heart and mine are forever linked, it would be my last name."
Before Catherine could say anything, Vincent hopped out of the bed and knelt down to his knee. "I don't have a ring yet or anything, but," he took Catherine's hands into his own, "Will you marry me, Catherine?"
"Vincent…" Catherine's voice faded as she tried to figure out how to say the right thing without sounding hurtful. She rolled onto her stomach and faced the side of the bed so she could give Vincent a direct answer. "I love you…and someday I want to marry you…"
"But…?"
"But you and I have just renewed our relationship….maybe we should take things slow and not rush into anything." She said as she caressed his face with her fingernails. "A lot has happened between us, and I think…I think we owe it to ourselves to see where this 'new' us takes us before deciding on marriage. Don't you?"
Vincent thought for a moment, realizing how ridiculous he was to propose on the spot like that. "You're right. What was I thinking?" He laughed it off as he rejoined her in the bed, but Catherine could tell he was upset.
"You were thinking of us," Catherine replied, "and there's nothing wrong with that. Like I said, someday…"
"Just not now, yeah?"
"Just not now." She repeated. He looked away from her, feeling guilty for thinking foolishly. She cupped his face and pulled his gaze back to hers before briefly kissing his lips. "You know I love you, right?"
He nodded, "I do."
"Then you have nothing to worry about, Vincent. I said I would marry you; just not yet."
"I know," Vincent gives her another kiss, "I guess I was hoping you'd say 'sooner' rather than 'later.'"
"I know you did," Catherine muttered. She combed her fingers through his hair, and closed her eyes when he kissed the nape of her neck. Because of 'where' his hands were roaming as he feathered kisses along her collarbone, Catherine knew her temporary rejection wouldn't change the relationship they had. At least—she hope it wouldn't in the long run.
~Beauty & the Beast~
Several hours have passed since they had discussed their future, and Catherine woke up to find a peaceful Vincent sleeping on her bed. For weeks, dare she ever tell Gabe, she had been yearning to wake up with the man before her, but her pride—her mind—would deny it. What was she ever thinking when she decided to start a relationship with the ADA? They virtually had no chemistry—sexual compatibility, maybe—but there were never fireworks between them, their likes and dislikes were very different from one another and Gabe obviously did not see eye-to-eye with her in terms of Vincent's humanity.
As the morning sun filled up her bedroom, she reached over to Vincent and started to gently graze the back of her fingers along the top of his spine. She heard him inhale a small breath, knowing he had woken up from her touch.
"You didn't leave this time."
"I live here," Catherine smiled.
Vincent turned himself over and looked at her lovingly. "So you do." For a moment, they only gazed into one another's eyes as Catherine's hand rubbed his shoulder. "I don't ever want to hurt you again."
"I know." She mumbled before they both leaned in for a kiss. Catherine cupped Vincent's neck as they kissed, and Vincent reciprocated by doing the same. As things were starting to heat up, they heard someone knocking on Catherine's apartment door. Catherine gave Vincent a strange look as he turned around to look out of Catherine's bedroom. Who would be knocking on Catherine's door this early in the morning? Catherine opted on ignoring her unwanted visitor, but when they knocked again—this time, more rapidly, she sighed, "Guess I should get that."
Both of them slipped out of the bed, and got dressed. Catherine threw on her red, flannel pajama bottoms and a grey sweater. Vincent, however, slid into his suit he was wearing the night before. Catherine walked out of her bedroom, and as she headed for the door, she turned around and laughed, "Let me guess, more flowers?"
Vincent peeked out of Catherine's bedroom, clueless as to who would be knocking on the door. Catherine opened up the door, and someone said, "Detective McCauley, 95th. We're looking for a Vincent Keller."
"What?" Catherine asked as Vincent started walking out into the hallway.
"Excuse us, detective." McCauley said. Almost immediately, the detective and a swarm of policemen filed into Catherine's apartment.
"What're you doing?!"
"Vincent Keller?"
"Yeah," Vincent voiced.
"You're under arrest."
"Arrest?" Catherine felt sick to her stomach.
"For what?" Vincent finished his girlfriend's thought.
"For the murder of Curt Windsor," McCauley replied.
"Okay, I think there's been a mistake," Catherine stated as men started to surround Vincent.
"No mistake, ma'am. Here's the warrant." He said while Vincent was being cuffed. He turned around to face Vincent, and continued. "You have the right to remain silent; anything you say can and will be used against you…"
As they escorted Vincent out of Catherine's apartment, he looked back at Catherine. "Why is this happening?"
"I don't know," she shook her head as she started to follow them. "Vincent!" She needed him to look at her—she needed to see his face.
"Don't worry, I'll be fine." Vincent nodded to her as he was taken out of her apartment. Catherine stood there, motionless.
What the hell just happened?! Seconds…then minutes passed before she regained the will to move. "Wait!" she called out before running out of her apartment and racing towards the squad car. As they shoved Vincent inside the cruiser, she pulled McCauley to the said, and said, "You can't do this!"
"I can, and I am!" the detective replied. "I'm sorry, Detective, but your boyfriend is a murderer—perhaps, you should reconsider your choices when you choose your boyfriends."
"There's gotta be some mistake!" Catherine defended her boyfriend. "Vincent would never kill anyone!" She knew it was the truth—now, but she had to say something in order to appeal to the detective's good graces. "Who authorized this arrest?!"
"I am not at liberty to say, Detective Chandler. This is not your case, and you are associated with Mr. Keller; therefore, I cannot disclose any sensitive information which might jeopardize the arrest. Now, please back away from the car unless you want to be taken in for disrupting justice."
Catherine didn't move.
"Detective Chandler, I'll say it again: back away from the vehicle." McCauley frowned.
Catherine looked at Vincent; for the first time in her life, she did not know what to do. If she tried to help Vincent, she would be considered an outlaw too for helping him; however, if she backed away, she would feel like she was betraying him.
"Do as he says," Vincent softly said to her. "I'll be fine."
Obeying Vincent's order, Catherine stepped backwards. McCauley slid into the vehicle, and in seconds, the cruiser was on its way to Rikers Island. "They won't get away with this," she whispered to herself before she took off running towards Gabe's apartment to demand for some answers.
~Beauty & the Beast~
"OPEN UP!" Catherine shouted as she knocked on Gabe's apartment door. "GET YOUR ASS OUT HERE RIGHT NOW, GABRIEL LOWAN, OR SO HELP ME GOD, I WI—" Before she could finish her thought, the door sprung open.
"It's 8 AM in the morning, Cat; what're you doing here pounding on my door?"
"Don't play so innocent, Gabe; I know it was you." she frowned, crossing her arms across her chest. "If this is some sick revenge game you're trying to pull, I suggest you stop it right now or I will find every possible way to make your life a living hell."
"I honestly have no idea what you're talking about, Catherine. What happened?"
"Don't pretend like you don't know, Gabe! Vincent was arrested for the murder of Curt Windsor. There were only a handful of people who knew what Vincent did to him; you're the only one who has means, motive and opportunity to authorize my boyfriend's arrest."
"As much as the thought of arresting Vincent seems appealing to me at the moment, Catherine, I assure you, I have nothing to do with this. Perhaps you should interrogate your father—he was the one who cleaned up after Vincent's mess, remember? Perhaps he made a deal with someone, and directed them to Curt's remains."
"Seems like you've had a lot of time to think about that excuse, Gabe." Catherine spat. "I swear, if you are the one responsible, you're going to wish you never fell in love with me in the first place."
"We'll see." Gabe smirked. "You can try to make my life a living hell, but I doubt you will ever be successful. Mind me, Catherine, I do care for you and I would never jeopardize any type of relationship we can still salvage by sending your boyfriend behind bars. Tell me, what would I accomplish by authorizing his arrest?"
"I think we both know the answer to that, Gabe." Catherine stated, "You better hope to God I don't find out you had anything to do with Vincent's arrest. If I were you, Gabe, I would sleep with one eye open."
Without another word, Catherine stormed out of Gabe's apartment. She couldn't deal with his bigheadedness at the moment; she need to speak with someone who could help her see the light in this horrible predicament. As she pulled out her phone, she couldn't help but think about Vincent. She worried for him. It's one thing to have control over his beast side during an everyday encounter, but being arrested? That could cause a lot of stress for him—especially since there's a new big bad in the world. If anything, he needed to get out of jail as soon as possible, and she was willing to break him out if need be.
"Hey," she mumbled into her phone as she started walking back towards her apartment complex, "Do you mind meeting with me at the café in twenty minutes? … My world is falling apart, and I need to talk to someone about it. … No. Vincent's not with me. … Why? It's better I tell it to you in person. … Thanks. … Oh, and pass the message to JT too; I think he's going to want to know what I have to say as well….. Really? Thanks again, Tess….Bye." Catherine shoved her phone back into her coat pocket, and raced to her apartment complex. She figured she would be a horrible friend if she didn't let Tess and JT in on Vincent's arrest. 'I'll get you out, Vincent,' she thought, 'if I have to break a few laws in order to do so, I will.'
~Beauty & the Beast~
"What's wrong, Cat? Where's Vincent?" JT asked as he and Tess walked into the café underneath Catherine's apartment complex. "Is he all right?"
"That's what I called you over here," Catherine stated in a distressed tone.
"Oh no, he got captured again, didn't he!" JT fretted, but Tess smacked him in the shoulder.
"Don't freak, JT. Just wait and hear Cat out before making assumptions." Tess said as she sat down across from her best friend. "What happened?"
As JT took his seat, Catherine sighed. "A lot."
"That sounds…cryptic…." JT stated.
"Vincent was arrested," Catherine said quickly.
"What?!" Tess and JT exclaimed together.
"How?!" JT demanded.
"Long story; everything happened way to fast. At one point, we were happy and everything was going quite well between us," Catherine blushed, "but then we heard a knock on the door to my apartment. Quickly, we both dressed and I went to answer the door, thinking Vincent had ordered more flowers or something. However, when I opened it up, a swarm of NYPD policemen filed into the room with a warrant for Vincent's arrest. We both barely had time to process as they cuffed him, and escorted him out to a squad car."
"I can't believe this! Just when I thought the guy was going to have a break!" JT clamped his hands against his head. "W-was it the Big Bad who arrested him?"
"I don't think so," Catherine shook her head before taking a sip from her cappuccino. "The arrest seemed legit."
"Which precinct is covering the case?"
"The 95th," Catherine replied, "Detective McCauley was the one who warranted the arrest."
"And who authorized the warrant?"
"I don't know…, but I have a good idea it was Gabe."
"Gabe?!" Tess widened her eyes. "That's a pretty big accusation, Cat. Even for you."
"I know…, but he has motive, means and opportunity—we broke up last night, and he said he wasn't going to let Vincent hurt me. What better way to protect me from Vincent than to have him locked up in bars?"
"Did you speak with him?"
"Yes, I did, but he wasn't exactly willing to speak the truth; he says he had nothing to do with the arrest." Catherine replied.
"What was Vincent arrested for?" JT asked as he looked at Catherine with worry. "Being a beast?"
"No…. for the murder of Curt Windsor."
"How did they even find out about that?! Daddy Reynolds cleaned up that mess pretty well!" JT stated.
"That's what I want to know," Catherine said. "Gabe insists I speak with my father about it…says something about someone possibly making a deal with him."
"I doubt he would rat Vincent out like that," Tess said. She looked around to make sure no one was listening in on their conversation, and then lowered her voice, "Your father wanted to make sure beasts never came to light—why compromise Vincent now? If someone found Windsor's body, a coroner will find out how he was killed as well as learn of Vincent's DNA. It was one thing when people thought your boyfriend was dead to the world—no one would be able to believe a dead guy could kill someone. However, that's not the case anymore. Former Agent Reynolds wouldn't put Vincent on the spotlight like this…. Jail could be very bad for Vincent, especially if he accidentally beasts out on someone under a high-stressed situation."
"That's what I thought, but then again, my father did tell me to kill Vincent before I get consumed into the world of beasts." Catherine pointed out. "Perhaps he and Gabe are working together? Maybe Gabe was the one who cut my father a deal."
"Now that is a plausible theory. Both of them hate Vincent, but in the same light, they both do not want to expose beasts to the world. Gabe would have control over the arrest, and would be able to ensure Vincent does not beast out. If he does, he would have the power to cover it up by saying Vincent has bad temper problems or something." JT stated.
"So…what should we do?" Catherine asked. "I don't think it's a good idea if we let things play out—especially since he's being charged of a murder," Catherine lowered her voice, "that he actually did commit."
"Well, V is smart; if he has to, he'll find a way to break out and leave the city. Knowing him, he would execute Phase E." JT replied.
"Phase E?" Catherine and Tess asked together.
"Yeah," JT nodded his head, but paused as a couple walked by their table before resuming his thoughts, "When Vincent was 'dead' to the world, we had devised several phases to execute if he was ever caught by Muirfield or anyone else."
"Please enlighten us, JT." Tess said as she crossed her arms against her chest.
"Phase E basically states: Break out of containment and leave NYC as soon as possible. If he does intend on breaking out, he'll go to the Safe Haven, contact me with his burner, and then I will help him stock up on supplies before he makes his grand exit. We have an emergency bank account set up just in case it was needed."
"How would Vincent contact you if he didn't have a burner phone on him?" Catherine asked, worried that her boyfriend would leave New York City without her. "Is there a spare somewhere?"
"There's an unopened burner phone hidden at the Safe Haven—even after Vincent was driven out of the tunnels the first time—the burner had not been removed. I can go down there today, and double-check to see if it still there. If not, I will stock one down there." JT said. "In fact, I'll go down there right now; you two work your asses off and surpass Law & Order in trying to prove Vincent's innocence."
"Don't have to ask me twice," Catherine said before JT left the café. She looked at Tess and sighed, "Tess, I can't lose him again. We had just renewed our relationship, and now this happens?"
"Don't worry, Cat. We'll get him out of there one way or another." Tess smiled and patted her best friend's shoulder. "You deal with your father; I'll deal with tracking Gabe's latest whereabouts. If he is involved, someone's gotta know something."
"Thanks." Catherine whispered. "Regroup in a few hours?"
"Yeah, let's meet at the guild next time."
"Sounds like a plan." Catherine nodded and her best friend left the café as well. She stood up from her chair, threw her cappuccino cup into the trash can, and walked out of the café. She went straight to the parking garage, and got into her car before pulling out into the busy streets to drive to Rikers.
~Beauty & the Beast~
Keiko Fujiwara:
What do you think will happen next? Will Catherine get the answers she is looking for? Is Gabe really involved? Will she get to see Vincent at all while she's at Rikers? So many questions to answer! More will be posted closer to the summer! If people really want me to update, I might be persuaded to post a new chapter by the end of this month. :)